Coco Gauff Addresses Backlash on Comments About American Fans
Coco Gauff found humor in the criticism she received for stating that American tennis fans are the “worst” supporters while abroad.
At a Team USA press conference during the United Cup on Friday, the 21-year-old athlete stirred controversy by noting a lack of American support at the event in Perth.
The two-time major champion later clarified her remarks on social media, expressing gratitude for any support she receives.
lol I’m going to clarify because people are dragging this out of context. I’m not expecting people to travel to tournaments to watch us play… https://t.co/AqutxKTZYy
Coco Gauff (@CocoGauff)
“lol I’m going to clarify because people are dragging this out of context,” Gauff tweeted Sunday. She emphasized that she doesn’t expect fans to travel to watch them play but highlighted that many tournaments, both in America and abroad, already have Americans attending, regardless of the players. She contrasted this with smaller countries, whose fans visibly support their players with flags and colors.
Gauff noted, “I was simply sharing my perspective. I understand the financial limitations and know tennis isn’t accessible to everyone. I was just making an observation about how passionate fans from different countries are.” She reiterated her appreciation for any level of support.
Gauff, currently ranked No. 4, shared her views just before a match where she lost 6-1, 6-7 (3), 6-0 to No. 42 Jessica Bouzas Maneiro. Her original comments were made during a press conference focused on the Group A segment of the event.
When questioned about the level of American support at the United Cup, Gauff candidly replied, “I’ll be honest, no. I feel like we’re definitely, in the tennis department, the worst at that.” She added a desire to see more American fans at the finals should they advance to Sydney.
Fellow American player Taylor Fritz defended Gauff, stating her comments were not meant to offend American supporters. He criticized how people often misinterpret statements, emphasizing that Gauff wasn’t disrespecting American fans but merely pointing out cultural differences in sports support.
On Monday, Gauff and Christian Harrison won against Spain’s Inigo Cervantes and Yvonne Cavalle-Reimers in mixed doubles, securing the United States a spot in the quarterfinals of the United Cup.
